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India and the European Union are “very close” to a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), the government said, as both Delhi and Brussels formally announced that EU leaders will travel to India as chief guests on Republic Day and hold a much-delayed EU-India summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
EU-India BTA negotiations were initially launched in 2007 and then restarted in 2022, and negotiations were accelerated in February 2025 during the visit of European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen.
While the trade deal will be the focus of the visit, the two sides are also expected to strengthen their strategic partnership first announced in 2004 and adopt a new EU-India strategic agenda that includes cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
‘The decisive partner’
The two leaders will be granted a state visit to India and witness the Republic Day parade on January 26 and the EI-India Summit and Trade Summit on January 27, 2026.
“India is a key partner for the EU. Together we share the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order. This meeting will be a key opportunity to build on our partnership and drive progress in our cooperation,” António Costa, president of the European Council, said in a statement about his and Ms Von Der Leyen’s visit from 25 to 27 January.
“Trade, security and defence, clean transition and people-to-people cooperation will be the main points on the discussion agenda,” the statement added.
“(The) participation of EU leaders as chief guests at the 77th Republic Day and 16th India-EU Summit will further deepen India-EU strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Engaged daily
Commerce Minister Rajesh Agrawal told the media on Thursday (Jan 15, 2026) that the negotiating teams were “very close now” to concluding the talks.
“We have fully closed 20 out of 24 chapters,” Mr. Agrawal said. “There are several issues that still require ongoing negotiations, and we’re engaged in them practically on a daily basis. We’re trying to see if we can meet the timeline when our leaders meet.”
Agricultural obstacles
However, Mr. Agrawal clarified that this is limited to “sensitive agricultural” products.
“I feel that the official quoted said that sensitive agricultural issues on both sides are off the table and I agree with her,” Mr. Agrawal said.
The issue of agricultural products is important as the EU’s latest trade deal with South American MERCOSUR countries ran into trouble with France this week amid protests by French farmers. While Mr Costa and Ms Von Der Leyen will sign the deal in Paraguay on Saturday (January 17, 2026), the European Parliament will have to ratify it.
Under political pressure over one deal, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose government this week endured two no-confidence votes on agriculture, may raise concerns about the India deal when he visits an AI summit in Delhi next month, officials with knowledge of the talks said.
Officials said France would monitor the progress of negotiations on agricultural market access, particularly on items such as wine, dairy products, meat and processed foods, which are considered “sensitive” for India.
Republic Day 2026: António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen visit India, trade deal on agenda
Published – 15 Jan 2026 19:19 IST
